Are you a golfer aged 50 or over? Do you enjoy friendly but competitive golf? If so read on...

If you are over 50 and have an official handicap from a recognised Golf Club, then join the more than 3,000 golfers who took part last year in Seniors Golf Association events.

The Seniors Golf Association is a registered non-profit-making organisation whose aim is to promote seniors golf tournaments in the UK and elsewhere.

Its main tournaments are the National Seniors Club Classic and the National Seniors Pairs Championship.

The victorious team from Rugby Golf Club - (photo courtesy of Peter Smith)

The National Seniors Club Classic is a knockout tournament for teams of four (plus two reserves who can play at any time throughout the year). Teams are drawn either at home or away and the matches are played as singles matchplay, in handicap order.

In the event of a 2-2 draw the two lowest handicappers play a sudden death play-off, with the winners going through to the next round. Although the tournament is national early rounds are arranged on a regional basis to minimise travel as much as possible, though in the later rounds some travel might be anticipated.

There are likely to be five rounds prior to the semi-finals and final, which are held at Tewkesbury Park in early October.

Maximum handicap is 18 (players above this are deemed to be playing off 18), minimum age is 50 (at March 31st 2009), though in practice most players are slightly more "experienced" than this and Clubs have a window of about five weeks in which to organise and play their match.

For first round losers there is a "Plate" tournament. Entry is £37 per team and Clubs may enter as many teams as they wish.

They are guaranteed not to play each other until at least the quarter finals. The National Seniors Club Classic is now in its eleventh year. Entries must be received by March 26th 2009.

The National Seniors Pairs Championship is a knockout matchplay tournament for senior pairs. Pairs are drawn either at home or away and each round has a window of about four weeks in which to organise and play the match.

There are probably six rounds prior to the semi-finals and final, which are held at Tewkesbury Park in early October. Although the tournament is national early rounds are arranged on a regional basis to minimise travel as much as possible, though in the later rounds some travel might be anticipated.

Maximum handicap is 18 (players above this are deemed to be playing off 18), minimum age is 50 (at March 31st 2009). There is no limit to the number of Pairs that can enter from one Club and they are guaranteed not to play each other before the quarter finals.

For first round losers there is a "Plate" tournament. Entry is £25 per pair. Entries must be received by March 26th 2009.

Organiser, Administrator and
Director of the Seniors Golf Association, Peter Smith lives in Canada and has many years' experience in golf, having been, at various times, Editor of several golf magazines, a consultant to the PGA, the author of 15 books on golf and a contributor to most of the major golf magazines in Britain (and overseas), including the founding editor of "English Golf", the EGU magazine. He was also UK Travel Writer of the Year and European Golf Writer of the Year several years ago. He has also been organising golf tournaments and golf holidays for the past 11 years within the UK, including the fund-raising golf activities of the Royal British Legion.

Peter Smith the week before Christmas practising his golf in temperatures of minus 18 degrees Celsius!

January 6, 2009

Half Price Golf!
Play golf at over 1400 courses in the UK and Ireland for half price, and save up to 50% at over 600 courses around the world with our discount schemes.

Improve your game!
We have over 100 lessons from top playing and teaching pros on every aspect of the game, as well as the world-famous and proven Leslie King method.

Score Tracker
Handicap and Score Tracker gives you a quick and easy way to track your rounds, analyse your game and record your handicap - all online. And it's free!